“The opening of this day center would not be possible without the generous donations from the community, including the City of Savannah and Chatham County. The community and supporting organizations have worked tirelessly over the past year to help educate, engage and establish this new initiative,” says Jackie Schott, the Chair for the Give Change That Counts Task Force. “It is with great dedication that a community creates change, and this opening signifies how much we need these centers and how the community supports all of its members.”

The Give Change That Counts campaign, started in June of 2021, was created to provide community education and encourage community investment in helping address and reduce the issue of panhandling. During the initial research stage of the project, it became evident that most people who chose to panhandle resorted to it because of a lack of resources during the day and generally nowhere else to find funding.

Through this initiative, financial and training support for the establishment of day centers is provided to faith-based organizations. The campaign’s task force continues to secure day centers to open in 2022. Fundraising for these day centers, which starts at $10,000 per year, will continue throughout the New Year in hopes of establishing several throughout the area. It is because of the generous donations of the community that these centers are possible and funding is still a large priority to create a sustainable, long-term system. 

The campaign is an initiative led by the Chatham Savannah Authority for the Homeless with collaboration and financial support from Chatham County, the City of Savannah, and major economic development groups, including the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce/Visit Savannah, Savannah Downtown Business Association, Savannah Downtown Neighborhood Association, Savannah Economic Development Authority, Savannah’s Waterfront, and the Tourism Leadership Council. The day centers that will be established throughout the area will act as safe havens and resource centers for those in need.

 More information and ways to support and donate can be found on www.givechangethatcounts.com and www.savannahpd.org/outreach.